But
few people know the story of the man behind the vineyard. Grapegrower Tom May,
who passed away this spring at age 83, sold the first Martha's Vineyard grapes
to Heitz in 1965.

Heitz
Cellar Martha's Vineyard has an exalted position in the hierarchy of Napa
Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. The Heitz Martha's Cabernets of the late 1960s and
'70s were among the finest in Napa history. In recent years, the wine has
returned to form, rejoining the upper echelons. Many know of the Heitz family,
but May and his wife, Martha, for whom he named their vineyard, kept a low
profile.

They
bought their Napa property in the early 1960s, and ended up becoming part of
the valley's 1960s wine renaissance, when the number of Cabernets increased
from a few dozen to more than a hundred. The Mays met the Heitz family after
enjoying two bottles of Heitz wine left behind as a welcome gift by the home's
previous owners, Belle and Barney Rhodes (the Rhodes' Bella Oaks Vineyard was
another of Heitz' longtime sources).

May
was a biology teacher in Ojai, Calif., before moving to Napa. He learned
grapegrowing on the job, with the benefit of Joe Heitz' advice (Heitz was a
winemaker at Beaulieu Vineyard for a decade before founding his winery in
1961). Heitz was so impressed with the quality of May's grapes that he was
inspired to create a single-vineyard labeled Cabernet with the 1966 vintage.
Their partnership lasted until Heitz' death in 2000; Heitz' son, David,
succeeded his father as winemaker, and the families' relationship continues to
this day.

Tom
May and Joe Heitz were a contrast in personalities, and the Napa wine industry
needed both types in those early days-reserved and quiet leaders behind the
scenes, like May, and more public, outspoken promoters like Robert Mondavi and
Joe Heitz. "Tom had a wonderful spirit," says Heitz' daughter, Kathleen
Heitz Myers, president of Heitz Cellar. "He always had a twinkle in his
eye."

May
was an early environmentalist, says his wife, Martha. "He was a member of the
Sierra Club, and a great believer in leaving the land as it is and not trying
to change everything," she said. "If there was a tree in the middle of a
vineyard you didn't have to remove it, or if you had a hill in the middle of
the area you didn't have to flatten it." Early on the Mays dry farmed their
vineyard, only adding drip irrigation later when drought years required water
to start new vines. Martha recalled a family dispute with Tom over whether they
should add a well to the property. He resisted until she insisted. "We needed
water for the house!" she laughed.

May
was also among the first to embrace organic farming, decades ago, at a time
when many, including Heitz, were skeptics. "Tom really embraced [organic]
before many people did," says Kathleen. "We wondered if we really need to do
this, but we learned over time that our wines were more balanced and healthy."

Courtesy of Heitz Cellar

Grapegrower Tom May with his wife, Martha, and their daughter, Laura May Everett, and son Richard May.

The
relationship between Joe and Tom demanded compromise. "[Joe] and Tom, they were
both their own person, each strong in their own way, their beliefs and
morals," recalls Martha. "They were trustworthy. For all the years of
our doings, we had handshakes."

Martha's Vineyard Cabernet has a
signature flavor profile that many can pick out of a lineup; it's prized for
its unique mint, currant and chocolate notes. It's also distinctive for its
exquisite balance and ability to age. Martha's Vineyard Cabernets have never
been overly oaky or tannic, a tribute to the Heitz house style. Heitz and May
harvested the vineyard at optimal maturity, yielding ripe and structured Cabernets
that seldom had green or herbal scents (beyond the mint).

Martha's Vineyard has all the things connoisseurs
prize in a great wine. It earned high marks for its distinctive and deliberate
style, its character, complexity, depth and balance. Over time, the wines have
proven to be relentlessly long agers. The Martha's Vineyard 1968, 1970 and
1974 Cabernets are among the greatest wines I've tasted.

While
Joe Heitz could be testy and assertive, Tom May was the opposite. But both were
family men. Pouring the 2007 Martha's Vineyard at the Wine Experience last month
was Harrison Heitz, Joe's grandson. Martha May and the couple's children will
continue to hold high Tom's farming standards. In Martha's Vineyard, both Joe
and Tom's legacies are secure.

Calvin E Harvell

New Jersey — November 14, 2017 10:23pm ET

I wrote this comment and attached it to your June 27, 2006 blog "Two Hot Labels to Look For" hoping for a response but I assume you don't monitor your old blogs to answer questions readers may have, so the following is my original question hoping you read it and respond.

What happened to Rhys? I read this article posted on their website but I thought I remembered a more recent reference in WS that prompted me to check out their website and join the wait list. I recently received notice that I would receive an allocation of their wine and would like to buy some. In the past I've used WS wine ratings to help with deciding what and how much to buy, Kosta Browne and Dancing Hares are two examples. Unfortunately, the last time you rated Rhys was 2013 and only one vineyard, Bearwallow. What happened? Absent any recent ratings do you still feel this is a good investment and if so which vineyards show the most promise. Thanks!

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